CEMUCHCA

In the early 90's, a group of young adults gathered to play music and offer their talents to the community of northern Haiti. They named their band CEMUCHCA (Circle of Christian Musicians of Cap Haitian) with the goal of assembling and managing talent and musicians to present a concerts in the region. After several successful years in the field of music throughout the Northern Department, members of CEMUCHCA scattered throughout the world for their graduate studies or to seek a better life. Those remaining in Haiti, anxious to share their expertise with young people, have broadened broaden the scope of CEMUCHCA. In 2004, at the initiative of Mr. Spin Joseph, the great visionary who coordinates CEMUCHCA projects, all members gathered to re-commit to the association with this time a larger vision: Provide considerable change in artistic production in Haiti. A change to be effective in the next 15 years. Among the specific objectives, it should be noted four of the most important:

1 - Increase the number of artists of high level throughout the North of Haiti by extracting and refining the most potential talent among children and adolescents in the country2 -initiate artistic training for about 100 young people per year within the various disciplines offered3 - Build in three years a training course consisting of spaces, accommodation, audience, production, exhibitions and recreation to international standards4 - Offer a summer camp designed to promote and improve the quality of training programs offered in various schools related and associated widespread in the country.

These goals, once achieved, will benefit for the all those in the north through job creation and the development of youth autonomy. The music school today CEMUCHCA set itself the task of promoting Art and Culture throughout the Northern Department. With this in mind we have set up a radio station (FM CEMUCHCA: 88.5) to facilitate the work of promoting Art and Culture. But one of the largest projects, the CEMUCHCA MUSIC INSTITUTE, founded in 2007, is the most perfect work that we can achieve. Indeed, after only three years of operation, this prestigious music school has a reputation as high among the three largest schools of music worthy of that name in Haiti. The music school has about 300 students of which 200 are active and CEMUCHCA supports very active annexes in Limbe, Milot, and Port-au-Prince, with more planned in St. Louis du Nord and on the island of La Gonnave.

Teaching strings is very productive thanks to teachers who are highly dynamic and above all due to the large number of students who chose this option, which includes violin, viola, cello and bass. The band program is growing and in need of teachers to guide young people who have chosen wind instruments such as trumpet, French horn, trombone, saxophone etc... There are also a significant number of students in piano, which consists mainly of young beginners in music. In terms of theory, there are three core activities: one for children aged between 5 and 12 years, a second for youth 13 to 19 and a third for adults. In the first children learn the theory, music theory, singing and recorder (mandatory at the beginning). In the second, young people are introduced to music history, theory, music theory, rhythmic dictation, melodic dictation and sight singing. The third group follows the same program as above, but with a more sustained look, as they are adults.

To consolidate the achievements of our students, we organize an annual music camp that has at least 150 students, along with fifteen Haitian teachers and over 10 foreign volunteers under the direction of Professor Janet Anthony, a very dynamic lady dedicated to helping the evolution of music schools in Haiti. Thanks to this lady, the CEMUCHCA has a chamber orchestra led by Elizabeth Flemming and composed of about thirty young people. The music camp saw the birth of our brand new Philharmonic Orchestra composed of nearly 40 musicians - this ensemble has continued to grow and now has regular performances in Cap Haitian and in PAP.

We also have a violin shop that operates under the direction of "Tchoupy" luthier our brave, intelligent and full of motivation. Thanks to support from BLUME Haiti and Music Fund, Tchoupy was able to profit from a six week apprenticeship with a luthier in Cremona, Italy - the cradle of violin making.

Our needs today: we look for strong partnerships with other organizations convinced of the need to contribute to the reconstruction of Haiti through the systematic teaching of music. We are also looking for volunteers who are able to come to Haiti for short or extended periods of time to share their experiences with our young musicians. Financial support is also necessary for us to cover food and accommodation for our foreign teachers already in post or who come to us from time to time to help the progression of learning. Given the motivation of our students, this work should go forward. And this with the help of volunteer teachers we are looking for all over the world and to whom we wish a warm welcome home.